Cool new ideas come from thinking in ways we have never thought
before. In years of attending staff meetings, committee meetings,
and the like, I've rarely seen a cool new idea expressed. Typically
these formats are designed to transmit information in a way that
stifles imagination and resists challenging the status quo.

Recently, my company started using a program call "TrainOne" by
Jeffery Gittomer. It is a training program designed for sales
people. My intent is not to train better sales people, but rather to
get fresh ideas and stimulate thinking. The process of sales is
really just persuasion. I think all nurses should study sales in
order to learn how to be more persuasive. We all have to persuade
someone of our ideas: persuade our kids to pick up their rooms,
persuade our administrators to implement a new protocol, or persuade
our patients to take their medications. Persuasion is an important
skill, and sales training is a great way to learn it.

But mostly, I like the idea of looking outside of our own industry
for cool new ideas. When we are only looking at how we do things in
comparison with how others in our own industry do them we are not
challenged to stretch very far. Nursing education is a good
example. We teach new nurses basically the same way we have for
years. Even our new "high-tech" classrooms are not really
innovative, they've just added new projectors and screens so that our
boring PowerPoint slides look better.

If you want to be a better educator, I would suggest taking a class
in the elementary education department at the local college. These
teachers have cool ideas! Or, attend a seminar on sales, and learn
more about how to persuade people – isn't that what teaching is
about – persuading your staff to do something new?

If you want your staff to "get it" without having to repeat it over
and over again, you've got to get some new and cool ideas. And the
best ones come from outside of our community. Look around for cool
people, cool ideas, and wacky thinkers. Get some of these people on
your committees, or in your department. Ask them for ideas. Forget
about "thinking outside the box" and discard the box entirely – think
outside the medical industry! You will find that when you start
actively searching for cool ideas, that they will start coming to you
from everywhere. Ask some wacky thinkers for their suggestions and
really give the idea some thought.

Cool new ideas will keep your material fresh, make your teaching more
interesting, and make your job a lot more fun! Make it your mission
to find them and use them. The results are extraordinary!

Best wishes,

David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com

Get all your nurses certified!
Check out www.100K-Certified-Nurses.com

--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, Dawna Cato <dcatomsn@...>
wrote:
>
> That's great Kathleen, I have worked in a hospital for three years
with no educator at all.  It is very true that new grads are often
found on the night shift, this along with fewer resources; it is no
wonder we have poorer outcomes.
>   Dawna
>
> Kathy Mac <mccarthy6613@...> wrote:
>
>   We have night educators 1 for critical care and 1 for med surg
that work during the 7p-7a shifts each of them 4 days a week and may
not necessarily be on the same night. They also work weekends, round
on the units and respond to every code.
>
>   Kathleen McCarthy
>
>   "Education costs money, but then so does ignorance"
>    - Sir Claus Moser
>
>
>
>   ----- Original Message ----
> From: "tourette@..." <tourette@...>
> To: mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:51:05 PM
> Subject: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on
nightshift and weekends.
>
>
>
> On day shift there is ususally enough MD's around to respond. Having
> access or should I say, no access to MD's at night has always been a
> problem. Also the response time when calling a MD at night can
impact
> patient outcomes.
>
> Joan
>
> --- In mpoweryournurses@ yahoogroups. com, "David Woodruff"
> <dwoodruff@ ..> wrote:
> >
> > In a recent study reported in the February 20, 2008 issue of JAMA,
> > Dr. Peberdy and Associates found that survival from cardiac
arrests
> > was worse on nightshift and on weekends. Many previous studies
have
> > also determined that other medical errors are higher at night and
on
> > weekends as well. The author suggests some explanations for the
> > discrepancies such as differences in staffing levels, expertise of
> > personnel, and monitoring practices.
> >
> > Given that staffing levels will probably always be less on
nightshift
> > than on dayshift, the nurses working the nightshift need to have
more
> > resources available to them to appropriately respond to emergency
> > situations. In addition, the nightshift often hosts the more
junior
> > staff who may be lacking in their assessment skills. The
researchers
> > did not suggest a specific mechanism causing the decrease in
survival
> > but it is likely that a delay in assessing and/or treating the
> > cardiac arrest is what caused the poor outcomes.
> >
> > Nightshift staff need training, mentors and additional resources
so
> > that they can respond appropriately to emergency situations when
> > staffing is lacking.
> >
> > From:
> > Perberdy, M.A. et al. (2008). Survival from in-hospital cardiac
> > arrest during nights and weekends. JAMA, 299; 785.
> >
> > Best wishes,
> > David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
> > President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
> > www.Ed4Nurses. com
> >
>
> I find the comment about new grads very interesting.  The new grads
we see haven't experienced the off shifts, and have no intention of
working them.  Weekends in many hospitals are staffed by bonus
workers who have no idea of the system, lousy orientation, and no
vested interest, except work 24 and get paid for 36.  I may sound
cynical, but I've earned it!
cak131343
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dawna Cato, BSN
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.
Try it now.
>

We have night educators 1 for critical care and 1 for med surg that work during the 7p-7a shifts each of them 4 days a week and may not necessarily be on the same night. They also work weekends, round on the units and respond to every code.
 

Kathleen McCarthy

 

"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance"

 - Sir Claus Moser

 

----- Original Message ----
From: "tourette@sbcglobal.net" <tourette@sbcglobal.net>
To: mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:51:05 PM
Subject: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on nightshift and weekends.

On day shift there is ususally enough MD's around to respond. Having
access or should I say, no access to MD's at night has always been a
problem. Also the response time when calling a MD at night can impact
patient outcomes.

Joan

--- In mpoweryournurses@ yahoogroups. com, "David Woodruff"
<dwoodruff@. ..> wrote:
>
> In a recent study reported in the February 20, 2008 issue of JAMA,
> Dr. Peberdy and Associates found that survival from cardiac arrests
> was worse on nightshift and on weekends. Many previous studies have
> also determined that other medical errors are higher at night and on
> weekends as well. The author suggests some explanations for the
> discrepancies such as differences in staffing levels, expertise of
> personnel, and monitoring practices.
>
> Given that staffing levels will probably always be less on nightshift
> than on dayshift, the nurses working the nightshift need to have more
> resources available to them to appropriately respond to emergency
> situations. In addition, the nightshift often hosts the more junior
> staff who may be lacking in their assessment skills. The researchers
> did not suggest a specific mechanism causing the decrease in survival
> but it is likely that a delay in assessing and/or treating the
> cardiac arrest is what caused the poor outcomes.
>
> Nightshift staff need training, mentors and additional resources so
> that they can respond appropriately to emergency situations when
> staffing is lacking.
>
> From:
> Perberdy, M.A. et al. (2008). Survival from in-hospital cardiac
> arrest during nights and weekends. JAMA, 299; 785.
>
> Best wishes,
> David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
> President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
> www.Ed4Nurses. com
>

----- Original Message -----

From: Didion, Patricia - Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist

To: mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 9:39 AM

Subject: RE: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on nightshift and weekends.

I need copies of unit educator job descriptions /requirements .Does anyone have any to share ? 

Patricia A.Didion, MSN RN

Clinical Nurse Specialist

Firelands Regional Medical Center

Sandusky, Ohio

Ph: 418 557 7839

didionp@firelands.com

 

---

From: mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kathy Mac
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 8:24 AM
To: mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on nightshift and weekends.

 Our positions are all filled. You can read about the value in my article:Critical Care Nurse June 2004 Breaking Tradition. May have some insight

 

Kathleen McCarthy

 

"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance"

 - Sir Claus Moser

 

----- Original Message ----
From: Joan Ahern <JAhern@centinelamed.com>
To: "mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com" <mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:08:37 AM
Subject: RE: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on nightshift and weekends.

What a treat, do you need an educator J

 

---

From: mpoweryournurses@ yahoogroups. com [mailto:mpoweryourn urses@yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of Kathy Mac
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2008 3:39 AM
To: mpoweryournurses@ yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on nightshift and weekends.

 

We have night educators 1 for critical care and 1 for med surg that work during the 7p-7a shifts each of them 4 days a week and may not necessarily be on the same night. They also work weekends, round on the units and respond to every code.
 

Kathleen McCarthy

 

"Education costs money, but then so does ignorance"

 - Sir Claus Moser

 

 

----- Original Message ----
From: " tourette@sbcglobal .net " < tourette@sbcglobal. net >
To: mpoweryournurses@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:51:05 PM
Subject: [mpoweryournurses] Re: Cardiac arrest survival is worse on nightshift and weekends.

On day shift there is ususally enough MD's around to respond. Having
access or should I say, no access to MD's at night has always been a
problem. Also the response time when calling a MD at night can impact
patient outcomes.

Joan

--- In mpoweryournurses@ yahoogroups. com, "David Woodruff"
<dwoodruff@. ..> wrote:
>
> In a recent study reported in the February 20, 2008 issue of JAMA,
> Dr. Peberdy and Associates found that survival from cardiac arrests
> was worse on nightshift and on weekends. Many previous studies have
> also determined that other medical errors are higher at night and on
> weekends as well. The author suggests some explanations for the
> discrepancies such as differences in staffing levels, expertise of
> personnel, and monitoring practices.
>
> Given that staffing levels will probably always be less on nightshift
> than on dayshift, the nurses working the nightshift need to have more
> resources available to them to appropriately respond to emergency
> situations. In addition, the nightshift often hosts the more junior
> staff who may be lacking in their assessment skills. The researchers
> did not suggest a specific mechanism causing the decrease in survival
> but it is likely that a delay in assessing and/or treating the
> cardiac arrest is what caused the poor outcomes.
>
> Nightshift staff need training, mentors and additional resources so
> that they can respond appropriately to emergency situations when
> staffing is lacking.
>
> From:
> Perberdy, M.A. et al. (2008). Survival from in-hospital cardiac
> arrest during nights and weekends. JAMA, 299; 785.
>
> Best wishes,
> David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
> President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
> www.Ed4Nurses. com
>

 

On day shift there is ususally enough MD's around to respond. Having
access or should I say, no access to MD's at night has always been a
problem. Also the response time when calling a MD at night can impact
patient outcomes.

Joan




--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "David Woodruff"
<dwoodruff@...> wrote:
>
> In a recent study reported in the February 20, 2008 issue of JAMA,
> Dr. Peberdy and Associates found that survival from cardiac arrests
> was worse on nightshift and on weekends. Many previous studies have
> also determined that other medical errors are higher at night and on
> weekends as well. The author suggests some explanations for the
> discrepancies such as differences in staffing levels, expertise of
> personnel, and monitoring practices.
>
> Given that staffing levels will probably always be less on nightshift
> than on dayshift, the nurses working the nightshift need to have more
> resources available to them to appropriately respond to emergency
> situations. In addition, the nightshift often hosts the more junior
> staff who may be lacking in their assessment skills. The researchers
> did not suggest a specific mechanism causing the decrease in survival
> but it is likely that a delay in assessing and/or treating the
> cardiac arrest is what caused the poor outcomes.
>
> Nightshift staff need training, mentors and additional resources so
> that they can respond appropriately to emergency situations when
> staffing is lacking.
>
> From:
> Perberdy, M.A. et al. (2008). Survival from in-hospital cardiac
> arrest during nights and weekends. JAMA, 299; 785.
>
> Best wishes,
> David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
> President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
> www.Ed4Nurses.com
>

In a recent study reported in the February 20, 2008 issue of JAMA,
Dr. Peberdy and Associates found that survival from cardiac arrests
was worse on nightshift and on weekends.  Many previous studies have
also determined that other medical errors are higher at night and on
weekends as well.  The author suggests some explanations for the
discrepancies such as differences in staffing levels, expertise of
personnel, and monitoring practices.

Given that staffing levels will probably always be less on nightshift
than on dayshift, the nurses working the nightshift need to have more
resources available to them to appropriately respond to emergency
situations.  In addition, the nightshift often hosts the more junior
staff who may be lacking in their assessment skills.  The researchers
did not suggest a specific mechanism causing the decrease in survival
but it is likely that a delay in assessing and/or treating the
cardiac arrest is what caused the poor outcomes.

Nightshift staff need training, mentors and additional resources so
that they can respond appropriately to emergency situations when
staffing is lacking.

From:
Perberdy, M.A. et al. (2008).  Survival from in-hospital cardiac
arrest during nights and weekends.  JAMA, 299; 785.

Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com

A turtle on a fence post didn't get there by himself. No matter how
large or how small your accomplishments, there have always been
people along the way that have helped you to get to where you are
today. When we reach any level of accomplishment, whether that be
writing a book, getting a standing ovation or earning a certain sum
of money, it is easy to look back at our success and think that we
did all the work. However, like the turtle on a fence post, we had
help. When you achieve any level of success, it is important to
remember the people who helped you get there.

I remember a day in my clinical practice when it seemed like I was
clicking on all cylinders. Everything seemed to go right. I had all
the correct answers, and I was able to help my patients in dramatic
ways. That day I left work feeling very good about what I had
accomplished. I felt proud of the way that I had conducted myself at
work and maybe even a little egotistical. My teachers, my mentors,
my preceptors did not come to mind on that day. I thought I had done
it myself. I worked hard, I studied and I learned from my mistakes.
But like the turtle on the fence post, I did not get there by
myself.

Who are those important people in your life who have helped you to
achieve the level of success that you are currently enjoying? Take a
moment today to acknowledge those people who have helped you become
who you are.

"What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the
thing that you are doing, knowing that it is not enough, that you
have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose." --
Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister

Best wishes,

David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com

On the floor, I hear some nurses say "I want to get out on time".  I
think that statement does not consider the needs of the patients.  The
nurse may have a manageable patient assignment, so the secondary goal
of getting out on time might happen.  But, if the patients need
labor-intensive care (complex dressing changes etc), or a new
admission comes up, then the nurses exhortation of "I want to get out
on time" needs to take a back seat.

Just last week, I picked up after a nurse who left 3 wrist bands on a
patient, and one of the wrist bands wasn't even from our hospital.
Empowerment is wonderful, but it must be "patient first".  patty

This week I caught myself saying I "have to" go out of town to
present a seminar. The terminology that I used was very negative.
Whenever you say you "have to" do something it implies that there is
an external force that is driving you; rather than an internal
decision that you have chosen the best course of action.

Dr. Stephen Covey in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
suggests replacing "have to's" with "chose to." Using this
terminology I would have restated my exclamation with I chose to go
out of town this week to present a seminar. Motivational speaker Zig
Ziegler suggests changing "have to's" to "get to's." Using his
terminology I would have restated my statement by saying this week I
get to go out of town to present a seminar.

Now some might say it is all semantics; but the words we choose and
the words we use will determine the way we feel and what we do. Can
you see the difference between the two statements? This week I "have
to" go out of town and this week I "get to" go out of town. The
second statement is more proactive and it acknowledges the fact that
I have chosen this line of work and that I am privileged to be able
to do it. You can do the same thing. Pay attention to your
language.

The language we use shapes our attitudes which then shape our
actions. I am much more likely to enjoy the process and do a good
job if I am using the terminology I "get to." Use this in your own
practice. When was the last time that you said "I have to go to work
today?" What if you changed that statement on a regular basis to "I
get to go to work today?" Recognizing that it is a privilege to be a
nurse and to be able to help other people. Suddenly it is no longer
a shift to get through but rather a shift to enjoy – and you feel
empowered.

Empowerment is not something that somebody else gives to you.
Empowerment is a gift you give to yourself by right thoughts, right
attitudes and right actions. It is in these little actions everyday
that you will be able to change how you view yourself, your job and
the world.

Best wishes,
David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the mpoweryournurses
group.

   File        : /PresentationEquipmentChecklist.pdf
   Uploaded by : bens_dad99 <dwoodruff@...>
   Description : A nice checklist to make sure you and your room are prepared for
your next presentation.

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mpoweryournurses/files/PresentationEquipmentCheckl\
ist.pdf

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.htmlfiles

Regards,

bens_dad99 <dwoodruff@...>

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the mpoweryournurses
group.

   File        : /PowerPoint-KeyboardShortcuts.pdf
   Uploaded by : bens_dad99 <dwoodruff@...>
   Description : A Great List of PowerPoint Keyboard Shortcuts

You can access this file at the URL:
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s.pdf

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
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Regards,

bens_dad99 <dwoodruff@...>

Who are your teachers?

I can learn something from anyone, but I can't learn everything from
just one.

I don't remember where I heard that quote, but I find it very
applicable in my life.  I love teaching, not because I feel I have so
much to share, but because I get to learn so much.  I learn something
from every group that I present for; at lunch, at breaks, and before
and after the seminar.  Questions from participants and just general
discussion about nursing care often bring to light issues and
problems that I had never thought of and unique solutions from our
greatest troubleshooters – the nurses at the bedside.

I found I can learn something from everyone.  Whether that nurse has
one day of experience or 40 years of experience, regardless of where
the nurse works, or what shift they work I can learn something from
everyone.

But, I need to keep an open mind!

If I think I have more knowledge, experience, or skill than other
people, then I will not remain humble enough to receive the lesson
when it comes.  As you venture forth into your teaching this week
remember that you can learn something from anyone.

But you can't learn everything from just one.  This is why it's
important that we have mentors.  The further you get in your career
and the more you know and the better you get at your skills the more
mentors you need.  I have mentors in every area of my life.  This
helps me to grow in many ways.  Who are your mentors?  If you're
lacking mentors in any area of your life, maybe this is the week to
look for them.  Let them help you grow so you can help others grow.

You can learn something from anyone, but you can't learn everything
from just one.

Best wishes,

David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS, CEN
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
www.Ed4Nurses.com

Patty, your thesis sounds interesting. where can I read it?
Kerry



--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "tourette@..."
<tourette@...> wrote:
>
> There are CD's to assist in preparation for CCRN. I let mine go and
> need to retest!
> Thanks
> Joan
>
> -- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "pbartzak" <patty@> wrote:
> >
> > I just submitted my Master's thesis toward an MSN in Nursing
> > Education.   I will graduate in May from Saint Joseph's College of
> > Maine.  The program is mostly on-line, although I did have to
spend a
> > few weeks there.  The program is 11 courses, 2 clinicals and a
thesis.
> >  I really learned a lot from my clinicals.  Last summer I did my
> > clinical at a Multiple Sclerosis Center and learned so much
neuro.
> > Last fall, I taught med-surg nursing at a community college.  My
> > thesis is "Strategies to Assist the Bedside Nurse in the Delivery
of
> > High-Quality Patient Care".  I went into a lot of motivation
theory,
> > as well as environmental supports to help bedside nurses.  I look
> > forward to taking the CCRN exam, the CDs are really helpful.
patty
> >
>

There are CD's to assist in preparation for CCRN. I let mine go and
need to retest!
Thanks
Joan

-- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "pbartzak" <patty@...> wrote:
>
> I just submitted my Master's thesis toward an MSN in Nursing
> Education.   I will graduate in May from Saint Joseph's College of
> Maine.  The program is mostly on-line, although I did have to spend a
> few weeks there.  The program is 11 courses, 2 clinicals and a thesis.
>  I really learned a lot from my clinicals.  Last summer I did my
> clinical at a Multiple Sclerosis Center and learned so much neuro.
> Last fall, I taught med-surg nursing at a community college.  My
> thesis is "Strategies to Assist the Bedside Nurse in the Delivery of
> High-Quality Patient Care".  I went into a lot of motivation theory,
> as well as environmental supports to help bedside nurses.  I look
> forward to taking the CCRN exam, the CDs are really helpful.  patty
>

I just submitted my Master's thesis toward an MSN in Nursing
Education.   I will graduate in May from Saint Joseph's College of
Maine.  The program is mostly on-line, although I did have to spend a
few weeks there.  The program is 11 courses, 2 clinicals and a thesis.
  I really learned a lot from my clinicals.  Last summer I did my
clinical at a Multiple Sclerosis Center and learned so much neuro.
Last fall, I taught med-surg nursing at a community college.  My
thesis is "Strategies to Assist the Bedside Nurse in the Delivery of
High-Quality Patient Care".  I went into a lot of motivation theory,
as well as environmental supports to help bedside nurses.  I look
forward to taking the CCRN exam, the CDs are really helpful.  patty

--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "dcatomsn" <dcatomsn@...>
wrote:
>
> --- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "future.lpns"
> <future.lpns@> wrote:
> >
> > Is anyone in grad school at present. I am halfway through a MSN
in
> > education in an online program. We are discussing student
centered
> > learning. What are some creative approaches you have utilized. I
> found
> > it interesting that I am ahead of the game and using many
innovative
> > approaches without realizing there was a specific name for my
> approach.
> >
>
> I have started the MSN-ed and I am really looking forward to
learning
> creative and innovative approaches to education. With today's
student
> population it is difficult to stay ahead of the game.
>
What MSN-Education online program are you in?

--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "dcatomsn" <dcatomsn@...>
wrote:
>
> --- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "future.lpns"
> <future.lpns@> wrote:
> >
> > Is anyone in grad school at present. I am halfway through a MSN
in
> > education in an online program. We are discussing student
centered
> > learning. What are some creative approaches you have utilized. I
> found
> > it interesting that I am ahead of the game and using many
innovative
> > approaches without realizing there was a specific name for my
> approach.
> >
>
> I have started the MSN-ed and I am really looking forward to
learning
> creative and innovative approaches to education. With today's
student
> population it is difficult to stay ahead of the game.
>
What MSN-Education online program are you in?

--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "dcatomsn" <dcatomsn@...>
wrote:
>
> --- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "future.lpns"
> <future.lpns@> wrote:
> >
> > Is anyone in grad school at present. I am halfway through a MSN
in
> > education in an online program. We are discussing student
centered
> > learning. What are some creative approaches you have utilized. I
> found
> > it interesting that I am ahead of the game and using many
innovative
> > approaches without realizing there was a specific name for my
> approach.
> >
>
> I have started the MSN-ed and I am really looking forward to
learning
> creative and innovative approaches to education.  With today's
student
> population it is difficult to stay ahead of the game.
>
What MSN-Education online program are you in?

I was walking out of work the other morning and was talking with a co-
worker. She was frustrated about an incident she had with a
consulting physician. She said that she called him because her
patient's abdomen was "getting bigger" and she felt that the patient
was bleeding. The patient had a ventral hernia repair and indeed was
bleeding into her abdomen. This nurse was frustrated that the
physician didn't seem, to be concerned and didn't give her orders. I
asked her what she said to him when she called and she told me "I
said I think she's bleeding and her belly is getting bigger. He just
told me to keep and eye on it." I told her I was surprised because
this consulting physician was always responsive when I had called him
in the past. She said, "It's different when you call, you're smart
with a lot of credentials, people listen to you."

I realized then that this was not an issue of being "smarter or
having more credentials" it was a communication issue. Being able to
communicate objective information to other members of the healthcare
team is extremely important. As the nurse, you are the one at the
bedside, you are the one taking care of the patient, and you are the
one who is in charge. There were a number of things that would have
clarified the concerns of this nurse. The patient's heart rate had
gone from 98 to 110, and her systolic blood pressure was down
slightly. She had been given two units of PRBCs and her hemoglobin
was 7.2 at the start of the transfusion and was 7.9 by the end of the
second transfusion. Her abdomen was bigger but measuring abdominal
girth or intra-abdominal pressures would have provided an objective
measure.

I sat down with my co-worker and went through this case with her.
She understood after we talked how difficult it would be to make a
decision on treatment options without these objective pieces of
information. I explained my "secret" of getting people to listen to
me – that of providing a clear clinical picture with objective data.
I think that nurses don't always realize the power we have at the
bedside. We are the team leader and we need to have the knowledge to
direct the team and provide the information each member needs to make
clinical decisions about patient care. It's easy to get discouraged
and blame the physician who doesn't listen to us, but if we do who
will take care of the patient's needs?

Christine A. Varner, MSN, RN, CCRN, CEN
Implementation Specialist, Seminars4Nurses, LLC.
cvarner@...

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
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Regards,

David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS
President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.

I would love to see a core group focus on this topic alone,
consolidate best practices, format according to the highest standards
of instructional design and publish for the best interests of
patients and staff. Real world budgeting, staffing and resource
allocation would be key in how this was done.
Mary Meiser, RN, BSN, BA, M.Ed., LNHA

--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "David Woodruff"
<dwoodruff@...> wrote:
>
> Re-imagine what nursing education will be like if every educational
> activity was designed to be maximally effective; every piece of
every
> educational activity was designed so that every different type of
> learner would have equal access to the information.
>
> Imagine if every educational activity had the kind of leadership
that
> was necessary for every student to have an equal chance of being
able
> to succeed, and to have the support, the guidance, and the
> inspiration to want to succeed.
>
> Imagine looking at our nurse educators as talent, and not as the
> first persons to be cut within an organization when the budget's
> tight; but as being talented individuals who are saving our hospital
> money and who are contributing in a positive way to the development
> of our overall mission by empowering our nurses to become
> extraordinary.
>
> Imagine nursing education being on the cutting edge of trends that
> are happening in healthcare, rather than on the trailing edge,
trying
> to catch up after few policies and new procedures have been
> implemented; but instead on the cutting edge, defining those trends
> for their current generations of nurses, using evidence based
> practice.
>
> What would your ideal be for your job, for your nurses, and for your
> future? Re-imagine the possibilities!
>
> Best wishes,
> David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS
> President, Ed4Nurses, Inc.
> www.Ed4Nurses.com
> www.100k-Certified-Nurses.com
>

Thanks Tom,

Our education department is about close to being exterminated. I needed
this email to empower me to continue seeking my career in nursing
education. I know this is my lot in life. I will empower myself to
finish my BS in nursing so I can find a job in a school and then I will
be able to devote my energy to creating a patient focused nurse.

Joan
--- In mpoweryournurses@yahoogroups.com, "David Woodruff"
<dwoodruff@...> wrote:
>
> "Nobody gives you power, you just take it." -Tom Peters, business
> author.
>
> What Tom Peters is referring to in this quote is the fact that power
> cannot be obtained by position or education but in fact must be
> earned by creating opportunities through education and reflections on
> experience.
>
> As a nurse educator, you must recognize that power is important for
> you to be able to do your job. You need to have power to be able to
> create change in the healthcare system that leads to better patient
> care. You may talk of empowering your nurses; but really what you do
> is you provide opportunities and preparation so that when the nurse
> becomes prepared and meets the opportunity that they will have a
> successful outcome for their patient.
>
> Preparation + Opportunity = Successful Outcome
>
> To learn more about how you can increase your ability to empower
> yourself and others to higher levels of professional achievement
> please check out this month's mPower4Nurses PodCast at
> http://ed4nurses.typepad.com/mpower4nurses/.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN, CNS
> President, Ed4Nurses, Inc., Seminars4Nurses, LLC.
> www.Ed4Nurses.com
> www.Seminars4Nurses.com
>